Letter: Workfare looks unworkable to the Kentish 'chain gang'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Your report and leading article about workfare raised some key issues, but did not give more than a nod towards the charity sector organisations who are likely to be asked to deliver a substantial proportion of any new scheme.
The Wildlife Trusts have 15 years' experience of hosting a succession of employment and training programmes from the community programme in the early Eighties to the more recent Community Action. Any scheme needs to pass five tests. It should be: efficient, to safeguard public money; worthwhile for the participants; valuable to the community; practical for the host organisations; and voluntary - to ensure people participate for the right reasons.
Those planning the latest scheme should be aware that charities will welcome programmes which pass these five tests. They will also need guarantees that there will be no sudden and radical rule changes - a feature which has bedevilled these activities in the past.
Menial forced labour is not attractive to anyone. Worthwhile work benefiting local communities and the people carrying it out is attractive to everyone.
PETER R SHIRLEY
Director, Community Affairs,
The Wildlife Trusts
Lincoln
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments